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Light Switch Time Capsule

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Light Switch Time Capsule

Written By: Sean Michael Ragan

/ TOOLS:

PARTS:

• Computer and printer (1)

! • Label C\)

• Small Flathead Screwdriver (1)

I • Light switch plate (1)

• X-Acto knife (1)

SUMMARY

I get nostalgic when I move out of a home, especially if it's one I've lived in awhile. Leaving a
secret treasure or two, stashed here and there, seems to help me get closure. Unlike, say,
dropping a note down inside the wall, a note on the back of a switch plate is likely to be
found sooner or later, but not right away. I've included a PDF template with a tiny font that
makes it easy to fit a 500-word message on the back of a standard light switch plate.

Update: Thanks to reader Cornflower who created an OpenOffice version of the template for
those of you who prefer it. Also, his version automatically wraps text across the openings!

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Page 1 of 5

Light Switch Time Capsule

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I lived in this place from 2006 to 2010. It was the first home I ever owned, and, depending on
when you read this, I might still own it. My plan, at least, on moving out, was to rent it for
awhile. I lived here for four years while attending graduate school at LIT, in the Chemistry
department. Organic division. I had some gloriously good times here, and some pretty
miserable lows, but all-in-all this place was good to me. I made some friends among the
neighbors, and some enemies. I loved the location (except for the proximity of the bus stop,
which got pretty annoying on the weekends), and walking back and forth to class every day, I
made friends among the staff at the convenience store there at 26th and Guadalupe, and
stumbled home from many a drunken show at Hole in the Wall. I was involved with four
women during the time I lived here, all of whom are still my friends. The first one decided she
wanted to paint the ceilings, and got about halfway done downstairs before losing interest in
the project. For all the time I lived here, the ceiling in the living room was half white, half
mustard yellow. The same woman also refinished the mantle, which was spray-painted flat
black when I moved in. She scrubbed the paint off and discovered the lovely stained wood

J

• Write your note to the future in your
text editor of choice. The template
should accept about 500 words.

Be sure to include the date!

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In your text editor, select all text, and copy it to the clipboard.

Open the PDF template attached to this project in Adobe Reader, click on the form, and
paste the text into the single field.

Try as I might, I couldn't figure out how to make the form text wrap around the screw and
switch holes in the template. So you'll have to space your text around them manually using
the space bar.

Thanks to reader Cornflower, who produced an OpenOffice version of this template
that automatically wraps text across the holes. See link above.

© Make Projects

www.makeprojects.com

Page 2 of 5

Light Switch Time Capsule

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tits UtJe me caphite turn wn*f e ysu IoukI h. and

maybe take ai mnute to leave one of you own Mmewhefe

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• Open the print dialogue in Adobe Reader.

• Make sure "Print Scaling" is set to "None."

• Print the PDF onto a full-page, adhesive-backed mailing label

Use a hobby knife with a straightedge to cut around the perimeter of the template, and to
cut out the switch hole.

Use the knife free-hand to cut out the circular holes for the mounting screws.

© Make Projects

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Page 3 of 5

Light Switch Time Capsule

• If the plate is sealed in place with
paint, first cut through the paint
around the edge with a hobby knife.

• Remove the screws from the light
switch plate and set them aside.

• The plate should come off the wall
with very little prying. If it appears
stuck, check again for a bead of
paint around the edge.

Remove the backing from the cut-out label and set it aside.

Carefully apply the label to the back of the switch plate, being sure to avoid wrinkles.

Smooth the label down using the waxy side of the scrap backing; this will help to prevent
smearing the ink or toner.

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Page 4 of 5

Light Switch Time Capsule

• Put the plate back in place over the
switch.

• Insert the screws and tighten down.

This document was last generated on 201 2-1 0-30 05:1 4:23 PM.

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Page 5 of 5